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Go Nigel, Go!
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Would You Like To Buy My Monkeys?
Dec
28
Dave and I spent our evening at the hospital.
Julia had taken a nap today, which is pretty rare for her, and woke up with a fever of 100.4 that climbed steadily until it reached 103.5 this evening. As her temperature rose and our concern grew, we came to the harsh realization that we hadn’t chosen a pediatrician in our new town, yet. We consulted our Dr. Spock handbook and my mother then decided to take her to the emergency room.
After an agonizing wait, our names were finally called. Julia was given some Tylenol and a Popsicle to tide her over until they would call us back again to see the doctor. We sat in the waiting room holding our sleeping baby and trying to ignore the overt displays of butt cracks that seemed to be everywhere.
I’m not sure who popularized the low rise pants, particularly the ones with words printed across the butt, but I believe that person just may be the antichrist. No good can ever come from showing off your butt crack. Those of you who are guilty of these heinous butt crack displays, hear me when I tell you: People don’t want to see butt crack, and the ones who do aren’t the ones you want looking.
Finally we were called back to a room. We placed Julia on the hospital bed and she woke up her usual, sunny self. The nurse walked in to find Julia bouncing on the bed identifying the color of every item in the room. After asking some basic health questions, the nurse spoke to me in a tone that suggested she didn’t think English was my first language. She explained what a fever was, that it should be treated and that it can be done at home with Tylenol. She didn’t seem to listen when I tried to explain that Julia had been taking Dimetapp for her congestion that I’d brought with me to show her because I didn’t feel comfortable giving her Tylenol with it, especially considering the warning on the label, but she silenced me with her hand and informed me in so many words that I was an idiot. Then to make sure I really felt the cut she’d just made, she threw a little salt in by saying, “First time mom, huh?” She nodded knowingly, “The doctor will be in shortly,” and left.
I sat on the bed next to Julia feeling relieved and a bit foolish. Now that we were there and certain everything was fine, it seemed a little silly to rush her to the hospital. But when we were home and she was draped over me like a rag doll, unable to focus on my face and answer my questions, it seemed silly not to take her. As her fever climbed, I told myself it was probably just a cold coming on, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it could be more. All I could think of was my friend who, at the age of 7, came down with a bit of a fever one night when we were playing at his house after church and was dead from meningitis the next day when it was time to go to school.
Dave rubbed my shoulders and said, “We did the right thing.”
The doctor came in later and checked Julia out. She has an upper-respiratory infection. Apparently it’s going around. We left with a prescription and a referral to a pediatrician.
On the way home we decided to drive through Burger King since it was after 9:30 p.m. and we were voracious having missed dinner. After our food was in hand, we pulled to a parking space to divvy up the goods and I realized I had to go to the bathroom. I’d had to go since we arrived at the hospital, but was too scared to leave Julia. I figured I better run into Burger King and go because I probably wouldn’t make the ride home otherwise. I ran up to the side door, but it was locked. There were people in the restaurant, so I ran around the other side to go in that way, but it was locked, too. As I turned to head back to the car, a Burger King employee opened the door and asked, “Ma’am? Is there a problem with your order?”
“No. I just need to use the restroom.”
“Oh, well we close at 10 p.m.” With that, she let the door slam shut.
Jerk.
I crossed the parking lot to go to Sheetz and use their restroom. FYI: They’re offering free self-serve coffee on New Year’s Day.
Comments
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Don’t you love the ER trips? Most anxious times of my life. Glad she’s doing better.
Oh yeah, we’ve been there. Every time we went to emergency or urgent care, it turned out to be one of those “take some Tylenol and she’ll be fine in a few days.” Except for the last time we went to the ER. Turned out our youngest child needed minor surgery and spent 5 days at the hospital. So you did the right thing. Better safe than sorry.
Aww, I’m sorry you had a bad day and I do hope Julia feels better really soon. We’ve had our fair share of “feeling stupid for going” ER trips but thats what they are there for.
As far as the pants, I wear the low rise ones but not so low that you see my butt. LOL. sorry.
You did the right thing bringing her to the hospital and don’t worry about that cranky “nurse.” Karma will take care of her.
The Burger King bitch needs a swift kick in the arse. I am so glad that Julia is doing better. Sick babies is never fun. I have two of them right now and myself. Not fun.
I agree with the buttcrack thing. I HATE buttcrack.
I think it’s always wise to err on the cautious side with little ones. I don’t care what others think about it. And I certainly know about having to go and not having anywhere to do it lol.
Well, I am a mom of three and a nurse….I know of what you speak. Little ones fevers can spike quickly, but I am surprised Dr. Spock didn’t recommend some Tylenol and a tepid bath first to see if the fever would break. If that didn’t work, of course take the little one to the ER. When my eldest was a toddler and I was not a nurse, I remember her spiking a high fever, I tried the Tylenol thing…but it wasn’t bringing the fever down…you know what I did….I called the ER and talked to the triage nurse…she told me about giving her the tepid bath and repeat the Tylenol and of course if that didn’t work to bring her in. I ended up bringing her in early the next morning…I did the night vigil at home with her…it was time to seek medical advice…turns out she had an ear infection…I know as parents we hate to see our little ones sick. But there are things we can do, before we need to take a trip to ER. Where I live we now have a nurses hotline and you can call them about any kind of medical questions and they can make suggestions if it’s as simple as taking some tylenol and a bath I say go for it..who wants to wait in ER for hours. I am so glad things turned out well for your little one.
I dread the emergency room. It just makes me nervous.
And that nurse!! To hell with her!